Page 23 of Crash

“Great. When did you two have this discussion behind my back? You know what? I don’t even want to know. Thanks for going behind my back and filling a position inmydepartment with someone who hates me without so much of a word to me.”

“Come on, Luke. She doesn’t hate you. She’s in a bind.” Jake runs a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated by this discussion.

“She told me she hates me! And even if she doesn’t, I hate her!”

“My son doesn’t have it in him to hate anybody,” Dad says.

“Thanks for telling me how I feel, creator. Listen, it’s your company. You two are the bosses, but you always told us how your three boys were going to run the company together after you retire. I can see that’s true for Jake and Troy, but you stick me in the basement. I have a degree in finance,” I remind him. “And you would never do this to your golden boys. You’d never go behind their backs like this, but I get no respect around here. And Jake, I have no problem with you helping your wife’s family but leave me out of it. Imagine if I did that to you? You’d shit a brick, but no matter how old I am, I’m still the baby brother who gets told what’s going to happen by everyone. You hired her. Fine.” Without another word, I walk out, slamming the door behind me.

“Motherfucker,” I yell as I step into my office and slam the door behind me, not giving a fuck if I startle the three people who work in the basement. It might not technically be a basement, but it’s in an isolated part of the building.

If I had any liquor, I’d be pouring a glass, despite the fact that it’s only ten on a Tuesday morning. I knew the rest of this week was going to be shit the minute I opened my eyes this morning.

I did what I set out to do after that day I had her pinned against the wall. I’ve stayed away. In fact, that was the last time I was in Jake’s house. It’s too much. She’s too much. She’s too close. Her smell is everywhere in that house.

After feeling her body against mine, I went right for the guest bedroom to rub one out. I dropped my shorts the minute I walked in the door, but instead of lying on the bed to take care of business, I went into the adjoining bathroom. Like a sick pervert, I took one of her dirty t-shirts and put it on my face while I jerked off. Her smell took over my senses and I came with her name on my lips in minutes.

After that, I left. I didn’t even shower. I went straight home and haven’t returned since. I’ve also stayed away from the bakery, but I’ve been to Gabrielle’s house twice for cooking lessons. Thankfully, it was only the two of us.

How the hell am I supposed to have her here every day? Not just in the building, but here with me, talking to me and asking me questions? Who am I kidding? She won’t talk to me. She hates me. Those were the last words she said to me when she stormed out of the house that day.

Fucking shrew. She can hate me all she wants, but she’s going to know who her boss is the minute she steps foot in here in two weeks. I have about twelve days until I see her. I grab my iPhone and scroll through some names. I might not want to date, but who says I can’t hook up? I send a text to some girl Zoey. She’s lives in the neighborhood, and I ran into her when I was at the grocery store last week. Maybe drinks can lead to something else.

While I wait for her to respond, I do two things. I look at job listings where I can put my finance degree to use, and I complete my graduate school application.

My phone buzzes two hours later with a reply to my invitation to drinks.

I lean back in my leather chair; the two hours I spent working on my grad school application has done nothing to tame my anger towards my father and brother. As I’m scrolling through more job postings, I hear a soft knock on my door and Troy pokes his head in before I can tell him to come in.

“It’s Testosterone Talk Tuesday.” Testosterone Talk Tuesday, or T Talk, is something I started when I started working here. The four of us have lunch together every Tuesday, no women allowed. “You ready? We can go to that Chinese place you like.”

I almost roll my eyes at him. They never want to go to that place. “I’m going to pass today. You three go ahead. I’ve lost my appetite.” Hoping he would take the hint and leave, I pick up my phone and text Zoey a time and place to meet later. But instead of leaving, Troy walks in and closes the door behind him.

“Dad and Jake told me what happened.” He crosses his arm over his chest, waiting for me to speak.

“Of course, they did. Look, I don’t want to talk about it. It’s done, and I can’t change it.”

“Maybe we can talk about it over lunch.” I drop my head on the desk, making a loud thud.

“I just said I don’t want to talk about it,” I say softly as if I’m speaking to Travis.

“For the record, I agree with you. I think they should have at least talked to you about it first, but Dad didn’t stick you here to punish you. Jake and I have worked here since we were kids.”

At his words, I stand up and grab my jacket. “Yeah, I get it. I’m the lazy third child. Look, I gotta go. I’m meeting a friend for lunch.” Without giving him time to respond, I walk out of my office, leaving him standing there. Just as expected, Dad and Jake are waiting in the lobby while Troy does their bidding.

I walk out the front door without a word to either of them.

CHAPTER 9

LUKE

“What you got in there, Lukey?” my mother asks as she tries to look inside my pan. She lifts the lids and inhales. “Smells good.”

“Just some stewed chicken to go with our Thanksgiving feast. I’m also making rice, so no counting carbs today, Mom.” Well, the part about making the rice is a lie, but they don’t need to know that. As many times as Sandy’s mom has shown me, my rice always comes out soggy. She told me I need more lessons, so she made some for me for today, which I picked up at her house first thing this morning. “Want one, Mom? Sandy?” I ask as I mix myself a rum and coke. Mom nods, but Sandy tells me no.

“Mom already made turkey. Why did you make chicken of all things?” Jake asks.

“Feel free not to eat it,” I shoot back. Jake only smirks, but my rebuke apparently gets Sandy’s attention.

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